(From the article "10 Facts About The Ramones" on Ultimate-Guitar.com.)

A few things about one of the first punk rock bands in music history.

The Ramones band name was in reference to Paul Ramon, the pseudonym that Paul McCartney used to maintain his anonymity when checking into hotels.

In a 1995 interview, Joey Ramone explained, "In the days of the 'Silver Beatles,' Paul McCartney would go to check into a hotel room, using the name Paul Ramone. Dee Dee was a big Paul McCartney fan, so he changed his name to Dee Dee Ramone. When I hooked up with Dee Dee, we decided to call the band the Ramones."

The LA You May Not Know: The Beatles Tour[Posted by Adam Forrest on Friday, 06/23/17 5:16 pm] [Permalink] [Tweet] [Facebook]

When you think of LA, you think of the stars. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that the Beatles, arguably the biggest headliners in rock history, have left their mark on Los Angeles.

They performed here as a group, as well as individually. Each member of the Beatles has lived here at one time or another, and George Harrison actually wrote a song about a real place in the city where he stayed.

KNBC TV Channel 4 host Lexi Campbell took visitors on quick tour of some of Tinseltown's fab four landmarks with Los Angeles Beatles tour guide Gillian Lomax on a special edition of The LA You May Not Know.

Gillian Lomax taking fans on the Beatles Tour

No place in the U.S. has as much combined Beatles history as Los Angeles, and Gillian has spent a lot of time researching her tour. She says, "Most people don't associate Los Angeles with The Beatles, but in fact they've had a personal connection with our city since 1964."

The cost for the four hour tour is only $75 per person. To take a Magical History Tour, or for more information, visit amagicalhistorytour.com.

No, not Stella McCartney. Winter Storm Stella is about to cause chaos across four states in the eastern United States, but the internet is able to find some humor in the arrival of what could be a historic blizzard, including this tweet:

Lost piece of music history we're dying to see released[Posted by Adam Forrest on Tuesday, 02/28/17 7:40 am] [Permalink] [Tweet] [Facebook]

(From the article "13 lost pieces of music history that we're dying to see released" on ToneDeaf.com)

In 1968, Paul McCartney agreed to contribute a piece of music to an art show held by British designer David Vaughan. The contributed piece, entitled "Carnival Of Light", is said to be one of the longest, and most psychedelic of all the pieces of music recorded by The Beatles.

Consisting of distorted guitars, church organs, and screamed phrases from John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it doesn't appear to be one of the Fab Four's most palatable works.

Oiriginal poster for Carnival of Light art show

The track is said to be incredibly avant-garde, and certainly not something that would be found on any of the group's records, so naturally, we want to hear it.

Surprisingly though, Paul McCartney actually wants us to hear it, and has actively campaigned to have the track released. He tried to get it released back in 1995, but George Harrison denied its release, and if McCartney wants it to be released now, he would need consent from Ringo Starr and the widows of Lennon and Harrison.

However, considering all he has done for music in the past, we're sure McCartney will find a way to let us finally hear this unreleased piece of Beatles history.

This weekend, February 25, would have been George Harrison's 74th birthday. To celebrate, Gillian Lomax, herself a fellow UK native, will be taking Los Angeles Beatles fans on a special Magical History Tour this Sunday that will highlight many of the places in the Los Angeles area that were special to him.

Some of the special stops on the tour of interest to George Harrison fans include the house up on Blue Jay Way in the Hollywood Hills, where George lived in the late 60's and wrote the famous song, and another house in Holmby Hills that he rented.

Lake Shrine

In addition, the tour will visit the breathtaking Lake Shrine in Pacific Pallisades. A very emotional part of the tour, this was one of George's favorite places in Los Angeles.

The tour will also visit the "George Harrison Tree" memorial in Griffith Park. This special memorial was dedicated on February 22, 2004, which was also declared George Harrison Day in Los Angeles.

The George Harrison Tree memorial

There are other George surprises on the tour, as well as many other interesting places that are part of the fascinating history of the Beatles in Los Angeles. And since it will be Oscars day in Los Angeles, there may be some additional star-studded sights!

The cost for this special tour is $75. To join the tour this Sunday, February 26, and for more information about Gillian Lomax's Magical History Tour of Los Angeles, visit www.amagicalhistorytour.com.

Is Ringo recording a new album with Peter Frampton?[Posted by Adam Forrest on Wednesday, 02/01/17 10:44 am] [Permalink] [Tweet] [Facebook]

Ringo Starr posted this on his official Twitter account on Monday:

Ringo told Billboard last June that he was well into recording a new studio album, which he's hoping to release in early 2017, and eight songs were already in the works, but there was no mention at the time of his working with Peter Frampton.

According to Page Six, A 1956 Austin Princess formerly owned by John Lennon has sold at auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, for $159,500. The sale included the car's original, registration signed by John Lennon.

John Lennon's 1956 Austin Princess

Originally designed to be a hearse, the car was purchased by Lennon in 1971, and customized with two rows of airline seats, giving the interior a very unique look. The Austin Princess was personally selected by Lennon because the doors opened to a wider angle, allowing for a quick escape from throngs of adoring fans.

The car was seen extensively in John Lennon's 1972 made-for-TV documentary "Imagine" with Yoko Ono.

In an article entitled "63 Most Anticipated Albums of 2017", Rolling Stone writes:

After announcing his return to Capitol Records, for whom the Beatles famously recorded, 74-year-old Paul McCartney wrapped up his 2016 tour and began work on his first album since 2013's New, going into the studio with producer Greg Kurstin, known for his work with Adele.

McCartney has also recorded tracks, including at least one with Lady Gaga, for an unnamed animation project.

"I'll put out my next album, but I won't think I'm gonna sell a lot," he told Rolling Stone last year. "I'm putting it out because I have songs that I like. And I will do my best job. The scene has changed, but it doesn't disturb me, because I had the best of it."

The latest issue of Beatlefan magazine looks at the story behind one of the least-known Beatles albums, "A Collection of Beatles Oldies."

Bruce Spizer and Ken Orth tell how the hits collection issued outside the U.S., and its colorful cover design, came to be. Plus, Brad Hundt looks at why another collection that was issued in the U.S., "20 Greatest Hits," didn't have the impact that the later "1" collection would enjoy.

Also in the new issue, Kit O'Toole offers an in-depth survey of George Harrison's career in the 1980s, and how he managed to reinvent himself professionally and stage a major comeback, culminating with "Cloud Nine" and the Traveling Wilburys, and Wally Podrazik offers an appreciation of the recent "Eight Days a Week" film, while Tom Frangione reviews its home video release.

In addition, Al Sussman weighs in on the fan debate over Paul McCartney's voice, and Rip Rense writes an open letter to Ringo Starr suggesting he reunite with a past creative partner (and not the one you're thinking of). Plus, all the latest news, including tour reports, and reviews of new video, books and recordings.

John Lennon memorial to be held tomorrow in Hollywood[Posted by Adam Forrest on Wednesday, 12/07/16 8:57 am] [Permalink] [Tweet] [Facebook]

A John Lennon Public Memorial Remembrance will be held on Thursday, December 8 to honor the late legendary singer, songwriter and Beatles member at Lennon's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star.

John Lennon's star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

The event will include special guest speakers journalist Ivor Davis, author of The Beatles and Me On Tour, and Chris Carter, radio host of Breakfast With the Beatles.

Fans of Lennon and the Beatles are invited to bring candles and flowers to place around his star. Fans are also invited to share songs, poems and personal remembrances at the event. Lennon was shot and killed by a lone gunman on December 8, 1980 in front of his Dakota Apartments residence in New York City.

The event will be held starting 6:00pm until 7:30pm at Lennon's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star which is located at 1750 Vine Street in front of Capitol Records.